Little response to Levo, then a huge swing from... - Thyroid UK

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Little response to Levo, then a huge swing from under to over active ...

MandShef profile image
4 Replies

Hi all, I while back I was started on 25mcg of Levo, which made barely any difference to my TSH (it moved down from 5.6 to 5)). I was then put on 50mcg, which got me into range, but at the higher end (TSH 3.63 range 0.27 - 4.2). The Dr agreed there was wriggle room to get me into the lower half of ref range & put me on 75mcg, but I shot into overactive, ending up with a TSH of 0.02 (does seem like a big change?)! So I reduced it to alternate days of 50/75 hoping that would sort it, but it's actually not made any difference & I'm still stuck on 0.02 (my T4 shifted from 30 to 29.9 so also high & barely a shift in the results). Has anyone else experienced a huge shift from under to over active? I've now reduced further to taking 50 mcg 5x p/wk and 75 mcg 2x p/wk. Just interested to hear what you think - it seems sometimes a dose change results in barely any change, whilst other times I get a huge swing - all on tiny amounts of Levo. Is it poss to switch from under to over active, or is this just my body over reacting to Levo, and it will calm down once I get my dose right?

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MandShef
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4 Replies

You're not really 'overactive' if your TSH goes down to nearly zero, you can't be as you have an underactive thyroid. However...do you know if you have raised antibodies - i.e. Hashimoto's? Most people with an underactive thyroid do. If you do, you could be having a 'Hashi's flare up'... where your thyroid is being attacked by antibodies and dumping large amounts of hormone into your bloodstream, which will bring on hyperactive symptoms until the flare passes (and probably confuse your doctor).

All this has to do with the inflammatory nature of an auto-immune disease. Are you gluten free? Dairy free? You may need to be both in order to suppress flare ups.

Do you have any other results you could share, your FT4 levels? FT3 (if you have them), B12, Vit D, folate, ferritin? All are important in managing Hashi's.

Here's a good link to explain what I was saying:

youralternativedoctor.com/h...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Essential to get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested. Always get actual results and ranges. Plus antibodies if not already tested.

Come back here with new post when have results

Assuming you have Hashimoto's then changing to gluten free diet is definitely worth serious go. Majority find it helps

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

MandShef profile image
MandShef

Thanks for your replies. I'll have a read when I get some time (busy weekend!). Much appreciated x

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